I dare the the Mormon owned Deseret News to print this. As a Gay man, I feel the intense hate that Mormons have for my family. And it will be remembered. And we will respond. We aren't asking for tolerance. We are DEMANDING equal rights. And if the General Authorities aren't a pack of liars, they will support California style civil unions for Gays in Utah and Idaho. And if they want to celebrate traditional marriage, they'll take Brigham Young (a polygamist) off the name of their Universities in Provo, Rexburg, and Hawaii.

re: Tom
Well it looks as if the DesNews took your dare!

I am sorry that you feel the LDS chuch and it's people hate your family. I do not hate you - I do not even know you! I have a cousin who is gay who I also do not hate her.

The way I see it you are not asking for equal rights but for special rights above that of what the rest of us would have. You would have the right to tell us what we can and cannot teach our children in the schools - you would have the right to sue our Bishops for not marrying you. You would have the right to sue doctors who do not see the world through your eyes. You were voteing for Marraige rights. Marraige first came to Adam and Eve from God not the goverment. The right to marry is not a govermental right it is a God given right under the guidlines that he sat down, namely between a man and a woman. I truly do not understand what all the fuss is about? You have all the rights in Calif.already.

@ JanSan

I don't respect your "God" statements.

If it's marrying gays in your church that you're worried about, propose an amendment specific to that. If teaching children about homosexuals is your problem, legislate against that. Don't tread on me.

Not that it will make much difference to your blind, unreasoning hate, but it was not Mormons, but rather Blacks and my Hispanic cousins that made the difference in Prop 8. Do you intend to spew your hate against us?

I think not. Mormons are the last minority your silly political correctness permits you to hate.

to Kevin:

No one is treading on you. You have the same rights to marry as everyone else. You also have the right to live with and partner with anyone you choose.

You have visitation rights and the legal and financial benefits of marriage. This is NOT an equal rights issue, it is an issue about the definition of marriage, one that holds deep theological significance to those of my faith.

to Tom in Lazybrook:

It is apparent from your response that your hatred goes one way, it is in no way reciprocated. You imagine feelings and motivations that don't exist, and promise retribution for them. The Church has never come out in opposition to civil unions. But I have a feeling you'll find some other way that the Church and it's members "hate" you and your family...

Is the purpose of the march to convince LDS leaders to change church policies? Or to ask them to not influence their congregation? Or is it because it is felt that the LDS church has interferred where they don't belong? Also, what percent of voters were LDS? Aren't there other groups who are anti gay marriage?

Also, are gays more concerned about being able to be married (united), or have the government given rights that accompany marriage (tax status and so forth?)

I wish activist would stop comparing the Civil and Women's rights movements to gay rights. They are completely different. Gay rights arguments are based on a choices. You can not choose your skin color or gender. You CAN make the decision to live a homosexual lifestyle.

@ To Tom and Kevin | 9:14 a.m

No question my heart is filled with much anger right now. I'll cool off in time, I reckon.

But here's the deal. I'm homosexual. For whatever reason, I'm not attracted to women, but rather men. I don't know why, I just am. I'm not going to deny myself a life of happiness, so I'm going to try have some kind of a family.

Here's the deal on rights. In Utah, and in many states, I cannot marry my partner, who is a man. Yes, I suppose I have the right to marry a woman, but what is that going to get me?

So try this on for size: I cannot marry, I cannot adopt if I'm cohabiting, and surrogacy contracts will not hold up in court. There are hundreds of other rights that are conditional on marital status that I am denied. Lastly, a religious employer can fire me because he doesn't like gays, but I as an employer cannot fire someone because I don't like religion.

Now, who's treading on whom?

Help me understand. So your biggest reason for wanting to marry your partner is so that you can adopt children?

Are you an equal opportunity employer? I thought, as long as you don't claim to be equal opportunity employer, you can hire or fire whomever you like. Like the Utah Jazz don't hire many women basketball players.

@Jon

Thanks for your questions.

I have to say yes. There's no way I'd try to raise a child on my own. A marriage contract is the best way to formulate that kind of arrangement. I'm only speaking for myself. People marry for other reasons.

Keep in mind I was raised to be a dad, and I was raised with the expectation of being a dad... as we all were. This is the most fundamental aspect of being a human being. Whatever neurological switch got put in backwards should not impede my ability to be a parent.

I see my homosexuality as a disability to having a "traditional" marriage. I'm not asking for special rights, just the same thing everyone else enjoys, but in the context of my apparent sexual orientation.

The only thing impeding me right now are certain religious organizations and their followers.

As for your other question... Right now, aside from my job at the U, where I enjoy an employment nondiscrimination policy, I'm a business of one as an independent contractor. So no employees yet. I'd love to expand, though, especially if the job market continues to loosen up.

I wouldn't discriminate against one's religion.